Department for Transport

Railways

Lord Snape: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they first received notification from Network Rail that the costs of some projected enhancement and electrification schemes were likely to exceed the amounts listed as available to them in the budget for Control Period 5.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: By spring 2014, as Network Rail began to develop designs for its enhancements to a greater level of maturity, it identified increases in cost forecasts on some of the major electrification schemes and discussed these forecasts with the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).　Very few of the schemes had passed through the ORR’s regulatory process to ascertain their efficient price by this point in time, so the forecasts remained indicative.  In light of this emerging picture, last summer Secretary of State for Transport asked Network Rail as a matter of urgency to provide an update on forecast costs across the whole programme, working with the ORR and DfT officials.

Railways

Lord Snape: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Network Rail enhancement and electrification schemes that have now been paused for reconsideration, whether they plan to take steps to ensure that all other remaining projects set out for completion in Control Period 5 will proceed as scheduled; and if that is not possible, whether they plan to publish a revised and achievable programme of upgrades and enhancements as soon as possible.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As the Secretary of State for Transport said in his statement on 25 June, important aspects of Network Rail’s investment programme are costing more and taking longer.   The Transport Secretary has paused electrification work on Midland Main Line and preliminary electrification structure work on the North TransPennine Line east of Stalybridge. This will allow Network Rail to plan an integrated programme which delivers reduced journey times, improved performance and capacity, alongside electrification.   All other schemes will continue to be delivered while the new Chair reviews the programme delivery as a whole. He is due to report back to the Secretary of State in the autumn detailing his proposals for re-planning the rail enhancements portfolio.

Network Rail

Lord Snape: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the current financial stability of Network Rail and its impact on improvements to the railway system, in the light of increasing demand for passenger and freight services; and whether they plan to take further action to restructure the company if the recently commissioned review so recommends.

Lord Snape: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that any further private sector involvement in Network Rail takes place only after detailed consideration and consultation with the industry and the relevant trade unions; and what assessment they have made of whether the complete privatisation of the company is either feasible or desirable.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The government has asked Sir Peter Hendy, Network Rail Chairman, to lead a review into Network Rail’s investment programme. This will be completed by Autumn 2015.   The government has also asked Nicola Shaw, Chief Executive of High Speed 1, to advise on the longer-term future shape and financing of Network Rail. This work will report in time for Budget 2016.

Railways: North of England

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the pause in the electrification of the TransPennine rail line and Midland Main Line will affect (1) the ending of the use of Pacer vehicles on the Northern franchise by 2020, and (2) the terms and conditions relating to the re-letting of the Northern franchise.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The pause in the electrification of TransPennine and Midland Main Line will have no impact on the ending of the use of Pacer vehicles on the Northern franchise by 2020 or the terms and conditions relating to the re-letting of the Northern franchise.

Railways: North of England

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any assessment of whether the replacement of Class 170 diesel multiple units by Class 156 units on the TransPennine franchise has resulted in a change in the quality of service; and if so, whether it has changed for better or worse.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The decision to move the Class 170 diesel multiple units from the TransPennine Express franchise was a commercial one made by their owner Porterbrook Rail Leasing.

Driving: Young People

The Earl of Dundee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take to reduce road accidents and fatalities among 15 to 18 year-olds; what plans they have to introduce restrictions on carrying passengers for that age group; and what assessment they have made of the impact of such a restriction on road accidents and fatalities in that age group.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Britain has some of the safest roads in the world, and there were fewer deaths on British roads in 2013 than at any time since records began. However, we want to make our roads even safer and that is why this Government will be looking at the best ways to improve road safety during this Parliament and beyond. There is a difficult balance to strike between the safety and the freedom of our young people. We won’t rule out any programme that safeguards young people, but at the moment we are focussing on technological and behavioural solutions.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Burma: Rohingya

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Rohingya Muslims are able to vote in the forthcoming election in Burma.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We continue to make clear to the Burmese authorities our concerns about the status and vulnerability of former white card holders, and the risk of the Rohingya being disenfranchised from the elections. We have stressed the need for a clear process to replace these documents, as well as a transparent, inclusive and consistent process in establishing the status of inhabitants of Rakhine State. Regardless of citizenship status, the human rights of all individuals in Rakhine must be fully respected. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), has made these very points to senior members of the Burmese government over the last few days during his visit there.

Attorney General

FIFA

Lord Moynihan: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Serious Fraud Office is currently investigating allegations of serious or complex fraud, bribery and corruption in the case of FIFA officials; and whether, in this context, they are actively and fully co-operating with American and Swiss law officers.

Lord Keen of Elie: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has not opened a criminal investigation into allegations relating to FIFA.The SFO is keeping the matter under review, but it can open an investigation only if there is reasonable suspicion of serious or complex fraud which can be prosecuted in this country. The SFO has been in contact with US and Swiss authorities. By international convention, we would not comment on what assistance, if any, is provided.

Barclays

Lord Tunnicliffe: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether ministers have had any discussions with the Serious Fraud Office on a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with Barclays Bank regarding that bank’s rescue plan and fundraising in 2008; and if so, what was the nature of those discussions.

Lord Keen of Elie: The Law Officers frequently meet representatives of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to discuss a variety of issues. However, as was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s policy to provide details of all such meetings. The Protocol between the Attorney General and the Prosecuting Departments sets out the relationship between the Attorney General and the SFO. This is published on the Gov.uk website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protocol-between-the-attorney-general-and-prosecuting-departments

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Living Wage

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on individuals' and businesses' understanding of wage rules of naming the new higher minimum wage, announced in the recent July budget, a National Living Wage when there is already a living wage rate established by the Living Wage Foundation.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Government will take steps to ensure the wage rules for the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage are clear to employers and employees. The National Living Wage will be implemented through the National Minimum Wage Regulations, in the same manner as the National Minimum Wage uprating in October 2015. National Living Wage rates will be debated in both Houses of Parliament in time to come into force on 1 April 2016. This will mean rules for all wage rates will be found within the National Minimum Wage Regulations. The Government supports employers that choose to pay above the level of the National Living Wage. However, decisions on what wages to set are for employers and workers to agree as long as employers pay at least the statutory minimum.

Ministry of Justice

National Mental Capacity Forum

Lord Hardie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Lord Faulks on 10 March (HL Deb, col 646) about the recruitment of a chair of the national mental capacity forum, (1) when the recruitment process was first advertised in national publications by inviting applications for the post; (2) what was the specification of the duties of the chair; (3) whether they will provide a copy of the advertisement; and (4) what stage has been reached in the appointment process.

Lord Faulks: The advert for the post of chair was advertised on the Cabinet Office’s Centre for Public Appointments website on the 24th of March 2015, and is attached. The advert contains the duties of the chair. We are at the final stages of the recruitment process and will announce the successful candidate after summer recess as we need to allow a 5 week period for the appropriate vetting process to be completed. Discussions on the membership and composition of the forum will take place with the new chair immediately after the completion of an appointment. We expect the process of determining membership to be complete by the end of September and will hope to convene the first meeting of the forum in November.



Advert for the Post of Chair 
(PDF Document, 104.7 KB)

National Mental Capacity Forum

Lord Hardie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Lord Faulks on 10 March (HL Deb, col 646) about the creation of the national mental capacity forum, (1) whether an appointment has been made to the chair of that forum, and if not, when they expect to make such an appointment; (2) how soon after the appointment of the chair they expect the membership and composition of the forum to be discussed; (3) when they expect the process of determining membership to be completed; and (4) on what date they expect the forum to first meet.

Lord Faulks: The advert for the post of chair was advertised on the Cabinet Office’s Centre for Public Appointments website on the 24th of March 2015, and is attached. The advert contains the duties of the chair. We are at the final stages of the recruitment process and will announce the successful candidate after summer recess as we need to allow a 5 week period for the appropriate vetting process to be completed. Discussions on the membership and composition of the forum will take place with the new chair immediately after the completion of an appointment. We expect the process of determining membership to be complete by the end of September and will hope to convene the first meeting of the forum in November.



Advert for the Post of Chair 
(PDF Document, 104.7 KB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Public Appointments

Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will list those persons appointed as chairs of non-departmental public bodies by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The following table lists the Chairs of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs non-departmental public bodies:  Advisory Committee on Releases to the EnvironmentProf Rosemary HailsAgricultural and Horticultural Development BoardSir Peter KendallConsumer Council for WaterAlan LovellEnvironment AgencySir Philip DilleyJoint Nature Conservation CommitteeProf Chris GilliganMarine Management OrganisationSir Bill CallaghanNatural EnglandAndrew SellsRoyal Botanic Gardens KewMarcus AgiusScience Advisory CouncilProf Charles GodfraySea Fish Industry AuthorityElaine HayesVeterinary Products CommitteeProf William (Bill) Reilly

Agriculture: Subsidies

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to challenge the imposition of a £642 million fine on the United Kingdom relating to the administration of Common Agricultural Policy farm payments; and whether in their negotiations for a return of powers to the United Kingdom they will include the removal of European Union powers to impose financial penalties on Member States.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: £642 million is the total cumulative value of disallowance penalties for the 2007-2013 Single Payment Scheme, a number of smaller 2007-13 CAP schemes, and pre-2007 predecessor schemes. Most of the disallowance related to early problems with the mapping system prior to 2010, but finally settled some years later, after the process of mediation had concluded.Defra negotiates hard to reduce the level of disallowance initially proposed by the EU and is also working to reduce the risk of future disallowance by improving domestic systems and controls, and by arguing for a simplification of the current CAP. This includes pushing for a review of the EU’s system for controls - the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) - to bring about a more pragmatic and proportionate approach to inspections, checks and penalties.

Home Office

Torture

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the United Kingdom signed the Istanbul Protocol; and when they plan to ratify it.

Lord Bates: The previous Government signed the Istanbul Convention in June 2012. This Government remains committed to its ratification. The Government takes its international commitments very seriously and will only commit to such ratification when we are absolutely satisfied that we comply with all articles. The UK already complies with the vast majority of the articles through its comprehensive work to protect women and girls. However primary legislation is needed to comply with the extra-territorial jurisdiction provisions in Article 44 of the Convention before ratification.

Asylum: Detainees

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many asylum applicants in the Detained Fast Track have been released from detention since 26 June who (1) were awaiting an initial decision; (2) had been refused but were awaiting an appeal hearing; (3) were awaiting an appeal determination; and (4) had exhausted all rights of appeal; and for each group, what information those applicants had been given regarding (a) the decision in R (Detention Action) v First-Tier Tribunal [2015] EWHC 1689; (b) the suspension of the Detained Fast Track; and ©) the redress available to them.

Lord Bates: Since 26 June 323 asylum claimants have been released from Detained Fast Track.Of those claimants released, 61 claimants were awaiting a decision, 70 claimants had received a decision, but were awaiting an appeal and 131 claimants were appeal rights exhausted.We did not provide any information to those claimants who were released from detention.

Asylum Support (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2015

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to publish the Public Sector Equality Duty statement prepared in respect of the Asylum Support (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2015.

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, regarding the Asylum Support (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2015, whether they decided not to prepare an Impact Assessment because they considered that reducing asylum support would have no impact on the voluntary and charitable sectors that assist asylum seekers; and if so, on what basis they reached that conclusion.

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of their legal duty to have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, they plan to publish their detailed assessment of the compatibility of the Asylum Support (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2015 with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, regarding the Asylum Support (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2015, what support other than cash is received by a family of four asylum seekers in Sweden, as referred to in paragraph 7.7 of the Explanatory Memorandum.

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, regarding the Asylum Support (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2015, whether they plan to publish the letter sent to members of the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum referred to in paragraph 8.1 of the Explanatory Memorandum.

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, regarding the Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2015, laid before Parliament on 12 March and later withdrawn, what was the research conducted into the real cost of essential items referred to in paragraph 7.4 of the Explanatory Memorandum.

Lord Bates: Asylum seekers, including dependants of asylum seekers, who are destitute are provided with accommodation and a cash allowance to cover their “essential living needs” - the legal test. The level of the allowance is kept under regular review.The most recent review showed that the asylum support payments provided to larger household groups comfortably exceeded what is necessary to meet essential living needs. The revised rates which will come into force in August are still sufficient to meet those needs. There should therefore be no impact on the voluntary sector.In conducting the review, in addition to other sources of information, research was undertaken into the actual costs of particular essential items, including the cost of food stuffs, clothing, toiletries, household cleaning stuffs and non-prescription medication, as well as travel and communications.In conducting the review, due regard was given the Public Sector Equality Duty and the assessment was that the reduced payments were still sufficient to meet those needs. The statement also sets out the methodology used in the review. A copy of the statement was recently provided on request to the House of Commons library. A copy of the letter to the members of the National Asylum Stakeholders Forum is also available on request.Along with accommodation, and free access to health care and education, the essential living needs covered by the asylum support rates are compatible with the UN Convention on the Rights of the child, and include nutrition, clothing and access to social, cultural and religious life.As a member of the European Union, the EU Directives on reception conditions for asylum seekers place Sweden under the same international obligations as the UK in respect of the provision of support to asylum seekers. Thus like the UK, Sweden provide accommodation and subsistence to those asylum seekers who are in need of such assistance.

Refugees

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total expenditure from the Home Office budget during 2014-15, and the total planned expenditure for 2015-16, on the reception, processing, accommodation and maintenance of illegal immigrants claiming refuge or asylum on arrival in the United Kingdom.

Lord Bates: It is not possible to answer the question as asylum claims are considered regardless of the means by which an applicant entered the country. We therefore do not set a discrete budget for the costs of supporting and accommodating asylum applicants who have entered the country illegally.

Refugees

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what basis the cost of refugees arriving in the United Kingdom is allocated between the budget of the Home Office and that of the Department for International Development.

Lord Bates: The Government does not assign a budget to departments specifically for the cost of refugees arriving in the UK.The cost of refugees might include asylum support, housing benefit, education, health care, and food and clothing. These costs are spread throughout government and are dealt with by various Government departments.

Refugees

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average cost per head to public funds of the first 12 months after arrival of those classified as refugees and accepted for resettlement in the United Kingdom.

Lord Bates: I refer my Noble Friend to the answer I gave on 29 June 2015, to written question HL676.

HM Treasury

Welfare State: Children

Lord True: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each financial year from 2015–16 to 2020–21, what are the estimated annual costs of (1) child benefit, (2) child tax credits, (3) free school meals for Year 1 and Year 2 children, (4) Universal Credit First Child Premium, (5) Working Tax Credit Childcare element, (6) working tax credit lone parent element, (7) housing benefit family premium, (8) child care grant, and (9) healthy start.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley: (1, 2, 5, 6)   The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has published expenditure forecasts for tax credits and Child Benefit as part of their recently published Economic and Fiscal Outlook document. The relevant information relating to personal tax credits and child benefit is reproduced below. Expenditure forecasts are not produced for individual elements of tax credits.£ billionEstimateForecast Welfare cap period2014-152015-162016-172017-182018-192019-202020-21Personal tax credits29.729.525.326.327.327.528.2Child benefit11.611.511.411.411.311.311.4   (3)   The Government is providing over £1 billion of funding in 2014-15 and 2015-16 to meet the costs of universal free school meals for children in reception, year 1 and year 2. Funding for later years will be considered as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.   Schools also provide free school meals for children up to the age of 18, based on their parents’ eligibility for certain benefits. This will include children in years 1 and 2. This is funded separately from within the Dedicated Schools Grant allocated to schools. It is up to schools to decide how to use their budgets and the Government does not measure spend on free school meals for this cohort. (4)   The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has published expenditure forecasts for Universal Credit as part of their recently published Economic and Fiscal Outlook document. The relevant information is reproduced below.   Expenditure forecasts are not produced by individual Universal Credit elements and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.£ billion Welfare cap period2014-152015-162016-172017-182018-192019-202020-21Universal credit*0.10.5-0.2-0.9-1.7-2.7-3.1*Universal credit actual spending for 2014-15 and 2015-16. Spending from 2016-17 onwards represents universal credit additional costs not already included against other benefits (i.e. UC payments that do not exist under current benefit structure). (7)   The information relating to housing benefit is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.   (8)   Forecasts are not available for child care grants, for which the rate is set annually. £74 million of awards were made in the 2013/14 academic year. Information relating to student support grant for childcare for 2016/17 was published in a written statement by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 21 July 2015. It confirmed that the maximum childcare grant payable in 2016-17, which covers 85 per cent of actual childcare costs, will be £155.24 per week for one child only and £266.15 per week for two or more children. Student support grants for childcare form just one component of the overall student grant budget. (9)   The estimated annual costs for the Healthy start scheme for 2015/16 are £81.6 million, net of devolved administration receipts.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Nuclear Power Stations: Cumbria

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of their decision to endorse the site at Moorside in West Cumbria for the construction of a new nuclear power station, what action they are taking to ensure that any consequent or related infrastructure, including that proposed by National Grid, fully complies with the law and with the undertakings of the government that landscapes designated as of the highest quality, including the landscapes of the National Park, should be protected and not damaged by electricity infrastructure development.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Moorside is one of the eight sites listed as potentially suitable for the construction of new nuclear power stations in the Nuclear National Policy Statement published in 2011. In the event of an application for development consent being made, the Nuclear National Policy Statement sets out how the Planning Inspectorate should consider impacts, including at section 3.10, landscape and visual impacts, before making a recommendation to the Secretary of State. Section 2.8 of the National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks Infrastructure makes similar provisions for related Grid developments. The Energy National Policy Statements are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-policy-statements-for-energy-infrastructure

Department of Health

Abortion

Lord Rooker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cost of terminations of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects in the latest period for which figures are available.

Lord Rooker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of the terminations of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects carried out in England in each of the past five years involved a patient whose home postcode was not in England.

Lord Prior of Brampton: Information about expenditure on abortions is not collected centrally.The number of abortions carried out in England and Wales for pregnancies affected by neural tube defects for non-resident patients is given in the table below. The International Code of Diseases includes Q00 Anencephaly, Q01 Encephalocele and Q05 Spina Bifida as Neural Tube Defects.201020112012201320143426224444

Haematological Cancer

Lord Stevenson of Balmacara: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report Destination Cure; and whether they plan to support the calls for a stem cell donor for every person who needs one, a successful transplant for every blood cancer patient, and the right post-transplant care for every patient who needs it.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Government remains committed to improving stem cell transplantation services and doing all we can to help those in need of a transplant to find a suitable donor.   Since 2011, the Department has provided our delivery partners, NHS Blood and Transplant and the Anthony Nolan (formerly the Anthony Nolan Trust), a total of £16 million in additional new funding to improve stem cell transplantation services in the United Kingdom. A further £3 million investment was announced in March 2015.   This funding has led to a tangible improvement in the availability of stem cells in the UK and the achievements include: More UK patients received a stem cell transplant in 2014 than ever before;Over 60% of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) patients are now able to find a well matched donor compared to only 40% in 2010;A single unified bone marrow donor registry has been created streamlining the provision of stem cells and reducing the time to provide cells from adult donors;The proportion of patients receiving cord blood from UK donors has significantly increased; and 5. An increase in UK patients receiving a transplant from 802 in 2010/11 to 1060 in 2013/14. The increased use of UK-sourced stem cells has meant that more donors than ever are available to donate leading to a significant cost saving by reducing the need to import stem cells.   The report ‘Destination Cure – arriving at a better future’ from Anthony Nolan is a timely contribution to the debate on the future of this work.